2020 - That is how I Knoll

And no, I am not talking about the grassy knoll or other small hills in the area. I am talking about the process of arranging objects in parallel and 90 degree angles as a method of organization. I first heard the term from Adam Savage when he explained knolling while building a LEGO Sisyphus. The term was first used by a janitor named Andrew Kromelow in 1987 and has taken on a life of its own, especially among crafters, makers, and photographers who appreciate the aesthetic of all things in order as they work. There is even a popular book out showing things knolled called Things organized Neatly: The Art of Arranging the Everyday by Austin Radcliffe.

Me knolling Star Wars The Mandalorian LEGO set before building it. Some of you, like me looking at the photo now, will notice the black piece out of place and be annoyed by it.
Me knolling Star Wars The Mandalorian LEGO set before building it. Some of you, like me looking at the photo now, will notice the black piece out of place and be annoyed by it.

Even before I heard this term, I was practicing the act of knolling. When crafting or repairing things, I like to organize the items on the table or bench in front of me for easy access. Even my desk at work, when I have the time, will tend toward being organized in even lines and stacks. I admit, knolling is a cooler term than saying you are a little OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). Soon as I heard the term for Adam Savage, I was like “finally, that is what I do!” I find knolling very relaxing, much like how I feel when assembling puzzles. The practice of separating the items then organizing them helps me focus and visualize the project ahead of me. I find the projects go so much faster and with fewer issues when I take time for knolling first. Even when disassembling an item to repair, I will knoll the items onto a workbench or sometimes even on a strip of sticky tape to keep them in one location. I am sure my interest in knolling says a lot about my personality and mental state, but I am ok with that. It makes me happy and more effective.

Do you enjoy knolling? Had you heard of the term before reading this post? If you knoll, what type of things do you enjoy knolling and why?

That is how I Knoll

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